Dancing Queen

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Shimmy and shakin’
Having the time of your life
Dancing on my rail
*
Strutting
claws digging deep
owning it
*
Knowing every bird watching
Will shake with fright
Hoping you will dance till night
And not take flight

 

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Lillian payed tribute the music group ABBA. They had only one number one hit in their career. It was the song, Dancing Queen. She asked us to take only one line from the song and us it in a poem of our choosing.  I chose the line, “Having the time of your life…”

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Royal Splendor

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Though life took its toll and age unraveled before her
She held her head high crowned with royal splendor
Containing a sweetness outlasting the superficial
Beauty from within crowning life’s aging body
Where one could draw nectar from her soul
the honey of life

***

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, De Jackson asked us to write a Quadrille of exactly 44 words using any form of the word crowned. This is a zinnia head, from my flower garden, that has lost all its petals, yet continues to feed the bee that comes for nectar. An example for us all.

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Buy Local

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With spending up and the supply chain clogged at the docks, perhaps we should think about buying local this year. It would be a big help to small business in our community. Perhaps downsizing our wish list would not be such a bad thing. Maybe we could focus more on what is really important at Christmas/Hanukkah. Enjoy your family and hug the ones you love! ( and, …maybe even the ones you don’t!!) 

Shipping containers

Stacked up on the docks this year

Buy local

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Nature’s Big Toe

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Rocks along the Oregon coast were formed long before we showed up. The lava formations, now eroded away, reveal rough and rugged shapes. Studying these shapes is like looking at the clouds and seeing animals, or faces, etc. This is one of those odd formations that remained as the ancient lava cooled.

Nature’s big toe 

Hardened in cold ocean surf

Waiting for next step

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Alchemist’s Creations

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We are just squishy pots of clay
spun and shaped by the master
Starting out as greenware
Aged and dried in the sun
Young and vibrantly smooth …
But we’re not finished
Till baptized in life’s colors
Full of toil and troubles
Only to be fired in life’s kiln
Aged // glazed with experience
Hardened with love’s beautiful finish
Yet, some struggle so hard
that their final hardened glaze
is crackled raku, tried by fire
still beautiful in its own way…
The Alchemist loves them both

Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Posted on Open Link Night at d’Verse Poet’s Pub

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Check out this great pottery site!  The Alchemist’s Studio

Frozen Reflections (haiku)

grasses-at-ennerdale-water- Fay Collins

Frost nips tall grasses

Reflections freeze on the Lake

Reality twists

Today at d’Verse Sarah asked us to revisit Faye Collins’ wonderful art. I chose Grasses at Ennerdale Water! I love the tall grasses and leaves along the pond. I don’t know exactly what season this is set in, so I chose to make it a frosty interpretation! It looks like it could be late Fall from the reflections.

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Friends Who Enrich Our Lives

Bunky and Celia's Shack

Friends Who Enrich Our Lives

As I look back on my life, I recall individuals who have enriched my life just by who they were and how they treated me and others. There are so many I could name in every stage of my life. My friend Bunky was one of those people.

Bunky ran a siding business and in 2005 I started working for him as the warehouse manager. I knew nothing about siding, but I did understand the building trade and was somewhat proficient on the computer. I came in and had a couple of hours orientation and started work the next day. He was very patient with me and helped me learn the details of the business. I worked there for six years.

Bunky was not just a boss, he was a friend. I sat in his office many times listening to his life experiences. He had so many great stories to tell. We became great friends during that time. Sadly, he died in 2017 in a fall at his mountain cabin. He will always be in that memory bank of friends.

Our friendship ran deep

Sharing life’s experiences

He died way too soon

Today at d’Verse, Frank asked us to choose something or someone we are thankful for in our life. I chose to write about my good friend Bunky Reges who was full of life and laughter. He came from “the old school” as they say. He was strongly opinionated but very likable to those who knew him well.

My Haiku at the end is a Senryu. I hope this will still pass for a Haibun.

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Photo: Dinner with Bunky and Celia at the mountain Shack! – Dwight L. Roth

Exposed

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I worked on this watercolor painting yesterday. I started off with a vision of what I wanted to show, but the painting decided to expand and change directions on me. This is what came out. It reminded me of a tree that has gone through struggles and adversity, yet year after year it still stands strong.

Anchored high on the side of the mountain

Hit with unexpected storms of life

Yet, it stands tall and strong rooted in rock

Arms always uplifted reaching for light

Naked // exposed to winter’s icy blast

Knowing spring brings a dress of emerald green

Watercolor Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Winter Haiku (4)

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Full Moon

Frosty night

Birds peck ice

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Suet feeder sways

Downy claws hang tightly

Pecking out the seeds

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Cold oak leaves turn brown

Squirrels gather an acorn stash

Willow stands naked

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Dried weeds sway

Seeds already scattered

Squirrel finds winter nest

Photos: Dwight L. Roth